POLSON GIRLS BASKETBALL: Honor Guards

For the Lady Pirates, the basketball season is a process and

they'd like to be hitting on all cylinders by February. When you

have a senior all-stater like Riley Kenney driving the engine,

Polson should continue their version of the "Lake Show."

For the Lady Pirates, the basketball season is a process and they'd like to be hitting on all cylinders by February. When you have a senior all-stater like Riley Kenney driving the engine, Polson should continue their version of the "Lake Show."

"The good thing about Riley is that she's patient about getting chemistry with the others," Lady Pirates head coach Randy Kelley said. "She's definitely capable and I think she'll have a good year."

Kenney was a double-double machine for Polson last season, and with all the hard-working talent around her, the Lady Pirates will surely be a force in the Northwestern A conference this season.

"I like the way they're working and they understand it's a process," Kelley said. "They're in it for the long haul."

Polson has a stable of guards that should be a huge part of their success this year. All-conference honorees Mariah Hamel and Nina Orozco-Charlo will bring their excellent shooting and ball-handling skills to the floor.

Two-time all-conference track star Anna DiGillonardo has afterburner speed that some jet pilots would be jealous of and Macall Banner's defensive skills will pay dividends for the Lady Pirates.

"For guards, we're loaded," Kelley said.

Junior Heidi Rausch will provide plenty of toughness for Polson as well, and is perhaps one of the most fearsome and intimidating forces in the county (just ask any player who had to try and stop one of her kills on the volleyball court).

"It's just a matter of coming together and gelling," Kelley said.

While Columbia Falls is always a factor, they lost impressive post Kayla Dewitt to graduation and Libby also graduated all-state athlete Jamie Gilden. Frenchtown has some height in the league and will add a new flavor to the Northwestern A this year and Whitefish should be better, it's looking somewhat wide open this season.

"I think our conference will be down a little bit," Kelley said.

Polson is receiving a big boost in terms of numbers thanks to a large class of sophomores coming through the pipeline. Kelley has been impressed with his squad's work ethic and with five seniors and three juniors on the squad, he'll definitely be looking to extend the depth chart.

"We're looking for a few of the sophomores to help us out at the varsity level," Kelley said.

If the Lady Pirates continue to put their noses to the grindstone, by the time February rolls around, they should be a finely-tuned machine ready to do work.

POLSON BBALL

The Skinny - While Polson will have to mesh as there are some newcomers to the team, there's plenty of talent that should have the Lady Pirates sailing by February

Keys to success - If Riley Kenney continues to do her impression of The Terminator, and Polson's guards bring their skills to the table, the Lady Pirates will be tough to beat.

Northwestern A - While the conference might be down this year, except several dogfights with NWA competition. Libby and C-Falls lost strong seniors but Whitefish should be much improved and then there's newcomer Frenchtown...